INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Answers

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many written questions tabled in the last parliamentary session his Department had been unable to provide a substantive answer before the end of the session.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development (DFID) makes every effort to answer all questions substantively before Prorogation, however, this is not always possible. Where this was the case, hon. Members were issued with a response that followed parliamentary guidelines to notify them of this. Where hon. Members did not receive a substantive response they have the option to re-table the question in this session.
	During the last Parliamentary Session of 2003–04; there were 2,296 written parliamentary questions tabled to DFID, of which, 13 questions could not be answered substantively in the time available before Prorogation.

Millennium Development Goals

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made on each of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG) on the basis of existing funding levels; and when each MDG will be met (a) including China and (b) excluding China.

Hilary Benn: The latest edition of DFID's annual publication 'Statistics in International Development' which is available in the House of Commons Library, summarises progress towards the MDGs. Globally, progress has been most noticeable in reducing income poverty and that the goal of promoting gender equality has also seen notable improvement. The water and sanitation targets for MDG 7 have also moved in the right direction. The prospects are less good for the goals related to universal primary education, improving child and maternal health and combatting HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, though some countries have seen substantial improvements in these areas, showing what can be done with the right policies and targeted resources. Goal 8 highlights action required by developed countries and progress is being made, although further effort is still needed.
	The UK has recently completed a report which sets out its own contributions towards meeting the MDGs, this will be published early in 2005.
	The UN has recently produced a chart showing progress towards selected indicators related to the MDGs by region. Although this represents the most thorough assessment currently available, it does not provide an analysis excluding China. The most recent UN progress report on the Millennium Development goals (October 2004) can be accessed via http://millenniumindicators.un.org.

Water/Sanitation Projects

Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's policy is on instituting sector budget support for water and sanitation in cases where main partner governments do not prioritise water and sanitation in their poverty reduction strategies; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Thomas: In our dialogue with our partner governments, we regularly discuss the priority placed on water and sanitation in their poverty reduction strategies.
	Whether DFID will consider, along with other donors, to provide sector budget support in a particular country will depend on the specific situation in that country.

CABINET OFFICE

Demonstration (Cabinet Office)

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the anti-war demonstration held inside the Cabinet Office on 23 November; how many demonstrators entered the building; at what time they (a) entered and (b) were removed; and what security status was in force at the time;
	(2)  what period of time elapsed before the intruders in the Cabinet Office on 23 November were challenged.

Ruth Kelly: On Tuesday 23 November at approximately 1.15 pm a security officer stopped a member of the public who was attempting to enter the Cabinet Office at 70 Whitehall without a pass. While the officer was dealing with this person, who was agitated, three further persons were able to gain entry. These individuals gained access to an office inside the building where they were, within a few minutes, stopped and challenged by security guards who had pursued them. The police were called, and they arrested, and removed all four protestors from the building at 1.30 pm.
	The security status at the time was black special.

Identity Passes

Julian Lewis: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether identity passes are required to be worn within the Cabinet Office building.

Ruth Kelly: Yes.

PRIME MINISTER

Casinos

Mike Hancock: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list meetings he has attended with representatives of casino operators from outside the UK in the last 12 months, broken down by (a) location and (b) purpose; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 10 November 2004, Official Report, columns 691–92W.

Climate Change

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on his recent discussions in Washington with President Bush on climate change; and what progress was made;
	(2)  if he will make an assessment of the degree to which (a) President Bush and (b) the US Administration believe that climate change is happening.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Southall (Mr. Khabra) at Prime Minister's questions on 17 November 2004, Official Report, column 1350.

Departmental Press Briefings

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister whether (a) Ministers and (b) departmental officials briefed reporters for (i) The Sun and (ii) Daily Mail in respect of information used in articles published on 23 November on alleged terrorist plots to attack targets at Heathrow and Canary Wharf in London.

Tony Blair: All contacts with the media are conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Civil Service Code, the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers and Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service.

Departmental Websites

Paul Holmes: To ask the Prime Minister whether his Office's .gov.uk websites comply with the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines adopted by the Government in 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: Recent work on the Downing Street website was part of an on-going commitment to ensure that the website is fully compliant with World Wide Web Consortium's guidelines. Further work is planned to ensure that the entire site meets the highest possible standards of accessibility.

Iraq

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Prime Minister what reports he received during 2002 from the International Atomic Energy Agency concerning Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Tony Blair: Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1051, the IAEA was tasked with submitting reports to the UN Security Council every six months on the status of its investigations into Iraq's nuclear weapons programmes. Reports were produced on 10 April 2002 and 16 October 2002 although there were no in-country inspection activities until November 2002 as a result of the refusal of the Iraqi Government to allow entry by the inspection teams. Following the resumption of inspections after UNSCR 1441 the IAEA presented an interim report on progress together with an interim assessment of Iraq's Declaration to the Security Council on 19 December 2002.

Iraq

Adam Price: To ask the Prime Minister on what date he was made aware of the July 2003 withdrawal by the intelligence services of the reports on Iraq's weapons.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 July 2004, Official Report, column 285W.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Prime Minister when he read the final report of the Iraq Survey Group.

Tony Blair: I read the report when it was published on 6 October 2004.

President Chirac

Tony Baldry: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with President Chirac on the Commission for Africa;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with President Chirac on the International Financing Facility.

Tony Blair: I discussed a wide range of issues with President Chirac during the UK-France summit held in London on 18 November 2004, including the Commission for Africa and the International Financing Facility.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the Communique and Declaration on Africa, which is available on the Foreign Office website, and to the press conference I held with President Chirac, which is available on the No. 10 website.

HEALTH

Health Service Deficits (South-west)

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial deficits for the financial year ended 31 March were for (a) the Peninsula strategic health authority, (b) Plymouth Primary Care Trust, (c) South Hams and West Devon Primary Care Trust, (d) Plymouth Hospital NHS Healthcare Trust and (e) Devon Partnership Trust; and what the anticipated financial deficit of each of them is in the year to 31 March 2005.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		£000
		
			  Surplus/(deficit) 
			  Outturn 2003–04 Forecast outturn 2004–05 
		
		
			 South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authority (SHA) 10,220 0 
			 Plymouth Primary Care Trust (PCT) 0 0 
			 South Hams and West Devon PCT 545 0 
			 Plymouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust (7,753) 0 
			 Devon Partnership NHS Trust 93 0 
		
	
	The forecast outturn for 2004–05 is based on the latest information published by the South West Peninsula SHA.

In-patient Accommodation

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in ending mixed-sex wards in Hampshire; and if he will list hospital premises where inpatient accommodation does not comply with the standards set by his Department.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has set three objectives to support the delivery of single-sex accommodation, designed to deliver single-sex sleeping accommodation, segregated bathroom and washing facilities and to safeguard the mentally ill. The objectives apply to all national health service organisations providing inpatient accommodation.
	All inpatient hospital accommodation provided within Hampshire is fully compliant with the standards which we have set.

Nurses

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets his Department has set for nurse numbers in each of the next 10 years, expressed as a (a) headcount and (b) whole-time-equivalent figure.

John Hutton: The NHS Plan set a target for an extra 20,000 nurses by 2004, over a 1999 baseline, the Government's Manifesto made a further commitment for 20,000 nurses by 2005, over a 2000 baseline, and "Delivering the NHS Plan" set an expectation for increasing the qualified nursing workforce by 35,000 by 2008 over 2001 levels.
	These targets and expectations are on a headcount basis, and all have been met and exceeded. The table shows the increases against the targets and expectations.
	
		
			  NHS Plan Manifesto Delivering the NHS Plan 
		
		
			 Target/expectation 20,000 by 2004 20,000 by 2005 35,000 by 2008 
			 Change 1999–2003 2000–2003 2001–2003 
			 Headcount 56,722 50,407 35,978 
			 Whole-time equivalents 43,552 37,905 27,558 
		
	
	Sources:
	Department of Health non-medical workforce census
	Department of Health general and personal medical services statistics
	There has been a further headcount increase of 10,000 between September 2003 and March 2004.
	There are no additional targets for increasing the nursing workforce, though we expect further annual increases. It is for local national health service organisations to determine the number of nurses needed locally.

Oxleas NHS Trust

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will meet (a) the Chief Executive of Oxleas NHS Trust and (b) the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead to discuss the matters raised by the hon. Member for Erith and Thamesmead in his letter of 13 October;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the (a) South East London Strategic Health Authority and (b) Private Finance Unit regarding Oxleas NHS Trust on the matters raised with him by the hon. Members for Erith and Thamesmead and Bexleyheath and Crayford (Mr. Nigel Beard) on 14 July.

John Hutton: Departmental officials have been in touch with South East London Strategic Health Authority about this matter.
	I met with my hon. Friend the Member for Erith and Thamesmead and the hon. Member for Bexley Heath and Crayford earlier in the year and wrote to both of them regarding Oxleas earlier this month. I have no immediate plans for a further meeting.

Peninsula Strategic Health Authority

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget of the Peninsula Strategic Health Authority is for the current financial year.

Rosie Winterton: The budget figure for the South West Peninsula Strategic Health Authority for the financial year 2004–05 is £4.563 million.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Ahmadiyya Community

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received regarding attacks by anti-Ahmadiyya agitators upon Ahmadis in Bangladesh; what representations he (a) has made and (b) is making to the Government of Bangladesh regarding the protection of the Ahmadiyya community in Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: We have received many representations on this subject from interested NGOs,including the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association UK and hon. Members of this House. We share their concerns about attacks and organised incitement against the Ahmadiyya community. We have both bilaterally and together with EU colleagues, regularly raised issues of religious persecution and intolerance with the Bangladeshi authorities urging them to ensure that minorities, not least the Ahmadiyyas, are suitably protected, that every reported crime is promptly and fully investigated, that the perpetrators of crimes against religious minorities are brought to justice and that firm action is taken against incitement. We shall continue to do so.

Ahmadiyya Community

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he (a) has made and (b) is making to the Government of Pakistan regarding the protection of the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan, particularly with regard to the blasphemy laws in that country; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The British Government takes a serious and very concerned view of all cases of religious intolerance and persecution.
	We have raised our concerns, bilaterally and together with our EU colleagues, about religious persecution and the blasphemy laws with the Pakistani Government on a number of occasions. The EU has called upon the Pakistani authorities to take all possible measures to reform the Blasphemy Laws; to strengthen institutional and legal safeguards while these laws remain in force; and to make the abuse of these laws an offence. The EU urged the Government of Pakistan to continue its efforts to bring the perpetrators of crimes against religious minorities to justice, and to ensure that every reported crime is promptly and fully investigated.
	We will continue to monitor the situation in Pakistan and will make representations to the Pakistani Government when this is called for.

Anti-Semitic Broadcasts

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken to tackle anti-semitic broadcasts from Middle East countries.

Bill Rammell: Her Majesty's Government deplores anti-semitism in any form. It is not our policy to seek to control broadcasts in other countries. But we look to all governments to promote the right to freedom of religion and the enjoyment of all human rights without distinction on the basis of race or religion. We engage closely with the Arab media in the UK and in the region, including funding for training programmes to help them improve standards. The EU tabled a resolution at this years UN Commission on Human Rights which urges all states, in conformity with international human rights standards, to take action to combat intolerance and intimidation based on religion or belief.

Anti-Semitic Broadcasts

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the effect anti-semitic broadcasts in Arab media have had on prospects for a resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Bill Rammell: We deplore anti-semitism wherever it occurs, as we deplore racism and xenophobia in any form. We have consistently called on all parties in the Middle East to do everything within their power to desist from incitement and to curb extremism. We expect all media outlets to broadcast in a responsible and objective manner. We have not made any specific assessment of the effect anti-semitic broadcasts in the Arab media on prospects for a resolution of the Arab-Israel conflict.

Arab Media

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the influence of Arab media on extremist Islamic movements in the UK.

Bill Rammell: The Arab media represents a wide spectrum of views, including those of modernisation and reform. We have not undertaken a measure of its impact. We expect all media outlets to broadcast in a responsible and objective manner. We engage closely with the Arab media in the UK and in the region, including funding for training programmes to help them improve standards. Where Arab media groups operate within the UK, they must operate within UK law. Possible offences of inciting racial hatred or violence under the Public Order Act can be referred to the police.

EU Constitution

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those areas of competence that will remain exclusive to the United Kingdom if the proposed EU Constitution is adopted.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) on 1 July 2004, Official Report, column 429W.

European Constitution

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the effect of the coming into force of the European Constitution on the operation of his Department, with reference to (a) changes in legislative competence, (b) the extension of qualified majority voting, (c) the increased legislative role of the European Parliament, (d) the cost of implementation of regulations, (e) the requirements of adherence to the Charter of Fundamental Rights and (f) the quantity of legislation originating in the EU institutions.

Denis MacShane: Following the commitment made to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4 May 2004, Official Report, column 1456W, we are aiming to publish by the end of the year a comparative analysis of the EU Constitution with existing EU treaty provisions. This document will address points (a), (b) and (c). In addition, with regard to point (b), I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for New Forest East (Dr. Lewis) on 5 July 2004, Official Report, columns 592–93W which sets out moves from unanimity to QMV in the EU Constitution. With regard to point (e), I refer the hon. Member to the statement on the Charter of Fundamental Rights made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 9 September 2004, Official Report, columns 133–36WS. With regard to points (d) and (f), the EU Constitution will not in itself determine the quantity of EU legislation, or any costs associated with its implementation. The introduction of a rigorous subsidiarity mechanism involving national parliaments should provide a check on new legislation and help focus it better when it is necessary. For more detail on the subsidiarity mechanism and the Government's position on the treaty as a whole 1 refer the hon. Member to the White Paper on the treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe which the Foreign Secretary published on 9 September (Cm 6309).

European Constitution

Mr. Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which parts of the text of the Constitutional Treaty for the EU are additional to provisions contained in treaties already ratified; and in which treaties those parts of the text which do not introduce new provisions were originally contained.

Denis MacShane: Following the commitment made to Parliament by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 4 May 2004, Official Report, column 1456W, we are aiming to publish by the end of the year a comparative analysis of the EU Constitution with existing EU treaty provisions. This document will compare each article of the new treaty to the existing treaties, identify which provisions are new, highlight moves to QMV and co-decision and extension of competence.

Parliamentary Questions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to how many written questions tabled in the last parliamentary Session his Department had been unable to provide a substantive answer before the end of the session.

Jack Straw: Seven. Of the seven, five were tabled shortly before the end of the parliamentary Session.

Spain

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Spanish authorities over (a) the remarks of the Spanish coach and (b) events at the matches during the recent international football matches in Spain.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no discussions with the Spanish authorities about the remarks of the Spanish football coach, but he discussed the incidents at the Spain v. England football match with his Spanish counterpart, Sr Miguel Angel Moratinos, the day after the game.
	Sr Moratinos condemned the racist chanting that we witnessed that evening, and agreed that such behaviour cannot be tolerated anywhere in society. I spoke to my Spanish counterpart, Sr Navarro, the morning after the match along similar lines, and expressed our outrage at the chanting.

Vietnam

Mr. Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  if he will make a statement on his Department's efforts to open up the Vietnamese economy to (a) domestic and (b) international trade;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on his Department's plans to assist Vietnam in becoming a market-based economy.

Douglas Alexander: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department for International Development (DfID) have adopted a joint approach to assist Vietnam in becoming a market-based economy, and in developing its domestic and international trade.
	Key to this is a common position on Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), in particular an insistence on accession on terms that benefits all Vietnamese people, particularly its poor. The European Commission (which negotiates on behalf of EU member states on WTO accession) has been encouraged by the British Government to recognise, in the negotiation process, Vietnam's low income country status.
	In terms of developing Vietnam's domestic economy, DFID is working with the World Bank to support reform of state-owned enterprises (SOE). Activities focus on the restructuring of three general corporations to reduce state direct investment, and encouraging the private sector to play a stronger role. This area of reform is crucial to free-up government resources for social service provision and poverty reduction. DFID further supported the revision of key investment and enterprise laws to create a level playing field for business, and to reduce state intervention in company decision-making and the allocation of resources.
	In the longer term, DFID, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank, is helping the Government of Vietnam to identify and develop policies to make the transition to a market-based economy work in favour of the poor, through improving their access to land and other natural resources, through increased opportunities for employment and income generation, and through linking up the domestic markets within which they supply labour to global markets, for example those that supply supermarkets. For further information on this intervention I refer my hon. Friend to the Making Markets Work Better for the Poor website: www.markets4poor.org.

TREASURY

Building Societies

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints were lodged against building societies in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not publish figures on complaints against individual firms.
	The FOS's Annual Review 2003–04 indicated that it had resolved a total of 76,704 complaints in the year ending 31 March, 13 per cent. of which were concerning Banks and Building Societies.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Economic Secretary will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 25 October (PO Ref: 5/10798/2004).

Dawn Primarolo: I have done so.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 5 October (PO Ref: A/01567/2004).

Dawn Primarolo: I have done so.

Dentistry

Mr. Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will commission research on the advantages and disadvantages of giving tax relief to cover the cost of private dental insurance for patients of dentists who have opted out of the NHS and where there is no alternative NHS dentist with an open list in the local primary care trust area.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have no plans to commission research on tax relief for expenditure on private dental insurance.

EU Accounts

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take if the EU Court of Auditors refuses to approve the EU accounts in its next annual report.

Stephen Timms: The Government are already discussing with the Commission and the European Court of Auditors how the annual Statement of Assurance may be improved to give a better assessment of progress. The Government also consider that it is important to continue to take an active role in promoting best practice in financial management and control in the Commission and in member states.

European Union

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the UK's net contribution to the EU budget was over the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The UK's net contributions to the EC budget for the financial years 1994–95 to 2003–04 are set out as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
		
		
			 1994–95 1,641 
			 1995–96 3,852 
			 1996–97 2,293 
			 1997–98 2,567 
			 1998–99 4,111 
			 1999–2000 3,325 
			 2000–01 4,318 
			 2001–02 1,477 
			 2002–03 3,080 
			 2003–04 3,264

European Union

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what duty of care his Department has to ensure that the UK contribution to the EU budget is used for appropriate purposes.

Stephen Timms: The Treasury takes the lead in negotiating EC annual and multi-annual budgets, as well as agreeing funding for new spending programmes, in line with UK priorities. The Treasury also leads in monitoring and reviewing the implementation of effective financial controls in the Commission and in member states to enable the budget to be spent appropriately and in accordance with the rules.

European Union

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of fraud in the use of the EU budget in (a) the last year, (b) the last five years and (c) the last 10 years.

Stephen Timms: Member States are required to report irregularities detected in the own resources, agriculture and structural funds budget sectors to the European Commission and the European Anti-Fraud Office. These figures are reported each year in the Commission's annual "Fight against Fraud" report. Reported irregularities may include suspected fraud cases, but the Commission does not identify the extent of fraud. Most irregularities are not fraud but genuine errors where the money paid out is usually recovered.

European Union

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what questions his Department has put to (a) the European Commission and (b) the European Court of Auditors during the last year regarding the Commission's accounting practices.

Stephen Timms: Treasury officials have taken the opportunity to question the Commission on a quarterly basis at the Council's Budget Committee and on other occasions with particular reference to its progress with the implementation of new accounting procedures. They have been assured that progress is on target for the implementation of full accruals accounting with effect from January 2005. There has been no formal discussion with the European Court of Auditors on this issue.

European Union

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations his Department has made, since August 2002, to (a) the European Commission and (b) the EU Court of Auditors to ensure that UK funds have not been used inappropriately by EU institutions.

Stephen Timms: Treasury officials played a major role in shaping the new Financial Regulation which now includes rules to govern the accountability of EU officials and requires the setting of "SMART" objectives (and the evaluation of their achievement) for all Community spending to ensure that the budget is spent appropriately. It also required the Commission to modernise its accounting practices. Officials continue to maintain close contact with the Commission and may assist in resolving specific UK issues. But while we maintain informal contact with the European Court of Auditors (ECA) on these issues, the ECA is prohibited under the treaty from taking instructions from any government.

European Union

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has raised concerns about the rate of turnover in senior accounting staff in the European Commission in the last three years.

Stephen Timms: This is a matter for the European Commission.

European Union

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is his Department's policy to encourage the European Commission to adopt double-entry book-keeping.

Stephen Timms: Article 134 of the Financial Regulation, which came into effect on 1 January 2003, requires the European Commission to use double entry book keeping.

European Union

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the implications for the competitiveness of Eurozone countries of the strengthening of the euro against the US dollar.

Stephen Timms: Based on all relevant factors, the Government will publish on 2 December their assessment of macro-economic prospects for the euro area in the 2004 pre-Budget report.

Financial Ombudsman

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints were received by the Financial Ombudsman Service in the latest period for which figures are available; how many of those cases were investigated; and in what proportion of cases investigated the complaint was upheld.

Stephen Timms: In the financial year ending 31 March 2004, the Financial Ombudsman Service received a total of 97,901 cases and resolved 76,704 cases. This data and breakdown was published in June 2004 by the Financial Ombudsman Service in their annual review and report and financial statements, 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004.

Financial Ombudsman

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the (a) powers and (b) penalties available to the Financial Services Ombudsman to deal with building societies who provide inadequate services to those seeking mortgages.

Stephen Timms: The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 established the Financial Ombudsman Service as an independent organisation to help resolve individual disputes between consumers and financial firms.The Financial Ombudsman Service has no powers to impose penalties against financial firms. This role is fulfilled by the Financial Services Authority, which may impose sanctions on firms, including building societies, which breach its rules.
	The Financial Services Authority assumed responsibility for regulating first charge mortgages, including advising and arranging on mortgages, on 31 October 2004.

General Insurance Regulation

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many advertisements for the new regime for General Insurance Regulation were placed in the national press by the Financial Services Authority in each month of 2004.

Stephen Timms: The FSA ran two advertising campaigns advertising the new regime for General Insurance regulation in 2004. The first campaign, between late May and July, consisted of 15 advertisements in the national press and nine advertisements in selected trade press. The second campaign in October consisted of a total of 48 advertisements, in the national press.

Inheritance Tax

Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the extent to which (a) the public and (b) banks and building societies have been made aware of the recent agreement negotiated by him for the release of sufficient assets of deceased individuals to pay inheritance tax on their estates in order to permit probate to be granted; and if he will make a statement on the steps taken to publicise that agreement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Direct Payment Scheme was introduced on 31 March 2003 in order to help streamline the process for paying inheritance tax. The Inland Revenue worked closely on the design with the British Bankers' Association (BBA) and the Building Societies' Association (BSA) to produce a straightforward process. The scheme allows participating financial institutions to transfer funds belonging to a deceased person directly to the Revenue and eliminates the need for administrators to obtain funds from outside the estate in order to secure probate.
	Members of the BBA and the BSA were given details of the scheme before it was launched. It was announced by press release and on the Inland Revenue website. Everyone dealing with a deceased person's estate who will need to pay IHT liabilities is given full details of the scheme and how to use it in the guidance notes they receive with their IHT return form. Callers to the Probate and IHT help line are also given guidance on the scheme when discussing payment of IHT. Information on the scheme is still available on the Revenue website at; http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/howtopay/iht-direct-pay-scheme.htm.
	Since the scheme was introduced there has been a steady increase in take up, with approximately 4,000 payments a year made through this route.
	The Inland Revenue monitor the scheme closely and have invited feedback and have stayed in contact with the BBA and the BSA.

International Cricket Conference Headquarters

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on taxation issues affecting the proposed International Cricket Conference Headquarters in London.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government have received a number of representations from a variety of organisations regarding taxation issues affecting International Sports Federations such as the International Cricket Council.

Mortgages

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further steps he proposes to take to protect the financial interests of those applying for mortgages in the UK.

Stephen Timms: The Financial Services Authority assumed responsibility for regulating first charge mortgages, including advising and arranging on mortgages, on 31 October 2004. The FSA will review how the new regime is functioning in due course.
	The Government intend to bring forward legislation to bring Home Reversion schemes under FSA regulation as soon the Parliamentary timetable allows.

Mortgages

James Paice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to regulate shared appreciation mortgages.

Stephen Timms: The Financial Services Authority assumed responsibility for regulating first charge mortgages, including advising on and arranging such mortgages, on 31 October 2004. The regime incorporates shared appreciation mortgages.

Parliamentary Questions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to how many written questions tabled in the last parliamentary session his Department had been unable to provide a substantive answer before the end of the session.

John Healey: One, which first appeared on the day before prorogation.

Petrol/Diesel (Duty)

Tom Cox: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue his Department has received from the duty paid on petrol and diesel oils in each of the last three years.

John Healey: Historic petrol and diesel fuel duty revenue figures are published by HM Customs and Excise in the Hydrocarbon Oils Bulletin, a copy of which is available on the UK Trade information website (www.uktradeinfo.com).

Post-16 Statistics

Steve Webb: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many 16 and 17 year olds are not in employment, full-time education or training.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Steve Webb dated 29 November 2004
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about employment. (200159)
	The latest estimate from the Labour Force Survey is that, in the three months ending in September 2004, a total of 198,000 (seasonally adjusted) 16 and 17 years olds in the United Kingdom were not in employment (including Government training schemes) or in full-time education.
	These estimates from the LFS, as with any statistical sample survey, are subject to sampling variability.

Staff Numbers

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff there were in his Department in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8 July 2004 to the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb), Official Report, column 811W.

Tax Credits

Brian Cotter: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in the constituency of Weston-Super-Mare are in receipt of (a) child tax credit and (b) working tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to the reply the Economic Secretary gave on 18 November 2004, Official Report, column 1712W to the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Paul Farrelly).

Tax Credits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter of 26 August from a constituent of the hon. Member for Vale of York regarding child tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: The hon. Member's letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions was passed to the Inland Revenue, who replied to the hon. Member on 17 November.

Tax Credits

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average length of time to process (a) a child tax credit and (b) a working tax credit application is.

Dawn Primarolo: I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) on 18 November 2004, Official Report, Column 1510–1511W.

Tobacco Smuggling and Fraud

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the proportion of tobacco products consumed in the UK which had evaded duty through (a) smuggling and (b) fraud in each of the last five years.

John Healey: HM Customs and Excise do not separately estimate the proportion of illicit tobacco products which evade duty through (a) smuggling and (b) fraud. However, the latest combined smuggling and fraud estimates, for cigarettes and hand rolling tobacco, are available in HM Customs and Excise's paper "Measuring and Tackling Indirect Tax Losses", published alongside the pre-Budget report in December 2003, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library.

Treasury Audit

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the European Commission to undertake a treasury audit.

Stephen Timms: The European Commission has no reason to audit the Treasury as it has no direct responsibility for the management of EC funds.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Beekeeping

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to maintain the regulation of (a) Varroasis and (b) European Foul Brood in beekeeping.

Alun Michael: The Department has no plans to maintain a statutory enforcement role for the control of varroasis. Since the disease is now endemic we plan to remove it from the list of notifiable bee diseases in 2005.
	In the case of European foul brood, we are working towards delisting this as a notifiable disease by the end of 2007–08. This will be subject to making satisfactory progress with trials of the 'shook swarm' technique, which the National Bee Unit is currently evaluating.

Refrigerator Recycling

Mr. Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the Environment Agency report auditing the refrigerator recycling scheme was published; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The results of an audit of refrigerator and freezer treatment facilities have been discussed with the site operators and the Environment Agency expects to publish the key findings shortly.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Websites

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department's .gov.uk websites comply with the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines adopted by the Government in 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Our main website complies with all of the Consortium's Priority 1 checkpoints, most of Priority 2 and some of Priority 3. The RNIB has undertaken an audit to assess accessibility of our main website. We will work with the RNIB to address the outstanding issues over the next six months.

Football (Racism)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has made to the Spanish authorities over (a) the remarks of the Spanish coach and (b) the actions of the crowd at the recent international football matches in Spain.

Richard Caborn: None. However, I wrote to the Spanish Minister of Sport last week about the incidents of racism at the England games in Spain last week. The Football Association has also written to the Spanish Football Association.

Football (Racism)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assistance she has given to (a) the Football Association and (b) the Kick It Out campaign over the issue of racism in football.

Richard Caborn: The Government fully supports the initiatives undertaken by football, including the campaign Kick it Out and the charity Show Racism the Red Card, to help eradicate racism in the sport. Through the Football Foundation, the Government (with its funding partners the FA and FA Premier League) provides £155,000 to the Kick it Out campaign, and £161,000 to Show Racism the Red Card.

Football (Racism)

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Football Association on the sanctions available to (a) international referees, (b) participating teams and (c) international coaches or managers when faced with racism at international matches.

Richard Caborn: None. There is no place for racism in sport—nor in modern society and I believe the strongest action should be taken, at the highest level, to ensure its eradiation from the game. I have written to the UEFA and FIFA expressing these points and I await their reply.

Gideon Hoffman

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether Gideon Hoffman is an employee of her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: Gideon Hoffman is a permanent employee of Her Majesty's Treasury on loan to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Licensed Premises

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of whether additional policing costs arise from the extension and late opening of premises for the sale of alcohol.

Richard Caborn: The reforms associated with the Licensing Act 2003 apply only to England and Wales. The regulatory impact assessment presented to Parliament when the Licensing Bill entered the House of Commons in March 2003 indicated that there should no additional costs to the police in terms of enforcing licensing law generated by the reforms. The reforms should however generate administrative savings for the police. The police are currently involved administratively in an average of 1.6 million licensing processes annually in England and Wales across the six existing licensing regimes that are merged into a single regime by the 2003 Act. The number of administrative processes in which the police are involved is expected to reduce to fewer than 200,000 annually once the Act becomes fully operational. The saving to the police in respect of administrative activity is estimated to be £45 million over a period of three years, which can be redeployed to frontline police work.

Parliamentary Questions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many written questions tabled in the last parliamentary session her Department had been unable to provide a substantive answer before the end of the session.

Richard Caborn: Seven written questions did not receive a substantive answer at the end of the 2003–04 parliamentary session. Four of these questions were amongst 36 written questions tabled to DCMS in the week prior to prorogation.
	At all times DCMS Ministers make every effort to answer written questions substantively before prorogation. However, this is not always possible. Where right honourable and hon. Members did not receive a substantive response it is open to them to re-table their question this session.

Satellite TV

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what controls are in place to ensure foreign satellite TV channels available in the UK are not broadcasting material which breaches UK laws on incitement to (a) racial hatred and (b) violence.

Estelle Morris: The regulation of such stations is principally a matter for their country of origin. Under the Television without Frontiers Directive, member states of the European Union are required to ensure that broadcasts do not contain any incitement to hatred on grounds of race, sex, religion or nationality. The Directive also provides that broadcasts from another member state which manifestly, seriously and gravely infringe that requirement can be restricted.
	The Broadcasting Act 1990 provides a power for the Secretary of State to proscribe a foreign satellite TV service if it has been notified to her by Ofcom. Ofcom may notify a service on the grounds that it repeatedly broadcasts material which offends against good taste and decency, or which is likely to encourage or incite to crime or to lead to disorder or to be offensive to public feeling. This can include services which incite racial hatred or violence.
	Proscription means that it is an offence for anyone in the United Kingdom to perform certain acts connected with the service, including advertising it, advertising on it, supplying decoding equipment designed or adapted to be used primarily for receiving it, and supplying equipment or other goods in connection with its operation. The Secretary of State may proscribe a foreign satellite TV service only if that is compatible with the international obligations of the UK.

School Sports

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of girls' attitude to sport in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools.

Richard Caborn: There has been a number of previous reports over the years on the attitudes of young women towards sport. Sport England commissioned the University of Oxford to examine, systematically, UK published and unpublished qualitative research studies on children and adults' reasons for participation and non-participation in sport. They also reviewed attitudinal questions in recent UK published quantitative surveys on sport and physical activity. The report of this review "Understanding participation in sport and physical activity amongst children and adults" will be published in January 2005.
	Some evidence from the draft report shows that school age girls do want to do sport and be physically active. There is also the need to offer them a choice of activities and on dress, as well as the ability to work in single sex groups.

Sport Spending

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the proportion of sports spending which benefits girls.

Richard Caborn: At present, we do not have specific figures on the proportion of sports spending which benefits girls. However, over the past 10 years, about £2 billion of Lottery funding has been invested in sport and physical activity, and it is an imperative that each initiative, programme or scheme must demonstrate how women and girls will be specifically addressed.
	Sport England is responsible for delivering the Government's sporting objectives in England. It is committed to creating opportunities for people to start in sport, stay in sport and succeed in sport.
	Specific posts aimed at girl and women sports development across England have been funded through Sport England's Active Communities Development Fund.
	Awards for All, another of Sport England's funding programmes, has targeted specific girl and women only groups in order to increase their grassroots participation in sport.
	The Sport Action Zones have specifically targeted women and girl issues in sport. In addition, Sport England established "Girl Sport"—a programme that addresses dropout rates in sport by girls.
	The Women's Sports Foundation's main source of funding is from Sport England, receiving £200,000 a year. The WSF is the UK's leading organisation dedicated to improving and promoting opportunities for women and girls in sport and physical activity.
	The Government is investing £459 million into the national strategy for PE and School Sport which aims to increase the percentage of school children in England who spend a minimum of two hours each week on high quality PE and school sport within and beyond the curriculum to 75 per cent. by 2006 and to 85 per cent. by 2008. This will have an impact on all children.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Fisheries Conservancy Board

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the (a) Chief and (b) Deputy Chief Executive of the Fisheries Conservancy Board carried out unassisted patrols in a FCB vessel in each of the last three years.

Angela Smith: The Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive carried out no unassisted patrols in either 2002 or 2003. A total of nine unassisted patrols were carried out in 2004.

Fisheries Conservancy Board

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prosecutions have been recommended by bailiffs of the Fisheries Conservancy Board in each of the last three years; and how many prosecutions have resulted.

Angela Smith: The number of prosecutions recommended by Fisheries Conservation Officers of the Fisheries Conservancy Board, the number of prosecutions taken forward by the board, and the number of successful prosecutions in each of the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			  2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Number of prosecutions recommended by  Fisheries Conservation Officers 284 184 587 
			 Number of prosecutions taken forward by  the Fisheries Conservancy Board 280 178 586 
			 Number of successful prosecutions 277 144 564

Fisheries Conservancy Board

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions a Fisheries Conservancy Board vessel has been in the sole control of the (a) chief and (b) deputy chief executive without the designated skipper in each of the last three years; and if he will publish the log report of each such patrol.

Angela Smith: The chief executive and deputy chief executive have been in the sole control of a Fisheries Conservancy Board vessel on 10 occasions without the designated skipper. Both officers are qualified to skipper the board's north coast fisheries protection vessel.
	The Fisheries Conservancy Board does not publish log reports that support its fisheries enforcement activities.

Fisheries Conservancy Board

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the (a) chief and (b) deputy chief executive of the Fisheries Conservancy Board, accompanied by other FCB officials, carried out patrols on an FCB vessel in each of the last three years; and which areas were patrolled.

Angela Smith: The chief executive and deputy chief executive did not carry out any patrols accompanied by other FCB officials in 2002 or 2003. These officers undertook five patrols of the north Antrim coast with other FCB officials in 2004. The deputy chief executive also undertook a further patrol of the north Antrim coast, and one patrol of Lough Neagh, accompanied by FCB officials other than the chief executive in 2004.

Irish Republic (President)

Mr. Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make representations to the Government of the Irish Republic to change the title of the President of that country to a title which specifically excludes Northern Ireland.

Paul Murphy: The title of the said office is defined by the Irish Constitution and is therefore a matter for the Irish Government and people of the Republic of Ireland.

Larne-Belfast Rail Link

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the future development of the Larne-Belfast rail link.

John Spellar: There are no plans at this stage to invest further on the section of the Belfast to Larne line between Belfast and Bleach Green which is in good condition following recent upgrades. A project to relay the section of the line between Bleach Green to Whitehead has been approved by the Department and work is scheduled to commence in the spring of 2005 and be completed by December 2005. The remainder of the line from Whitehead to Larne forms part of the lesser used part of the railways network and I am currently considering future investment on these lines as part of the 2004 Spending Review taking account of the recent public consultation on this matter.

MOT Certificate

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on how many occasions in each year since 2000 the lack of an MOT certificate has been detected, broken down by district command unit.

Ian Pearson: This information is not held in the format requested. These figures could only be compiled at disproportionate expense.

Priority Treatment (Ex-service Personnel)

David Burnside: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Department of Health and Social Services does not provide the level of priority treatment for ex-servicemen and women provided elsewhere in the UK.

Angela Smith: Guidance was issued by the Department of Social Security in 1972 on hospital treatment for ex-servicemen and women which applied to England, Wales and Scotland, but did not apply in Northern Ireland. No equivalent guidance has been issued in Northern Ireland, although boards and trusts here have been asked by the Department to ensure that a safe and effective service is provided and that patients are treated according to their clinical priority.

Residential Accommodation (Care Costs)

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in residential accommodation on a voluntary financing basis have been paid in full during the 12 week disregard period by each Health and Social Services Trust in Northern Ireland.

Angela Smith: The information requested by the hon. Gentleman could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tax Discs

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, on how many occasions in each year since 2000 the non-display of vehicle tax discs has been detected, broken down by district command unit.

Ian Pearson: This information is not held in the format requested. These figures could only be compiled at disproportionate expense.

Traffic Wardens

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will rescind the decision to change the role of traffic wardens in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: The Police Service of Northern Ireland has taken the decision to withdraw from the enforcement of parking and waiting restrictions in order to concentrate resources on areas of greater policing priority.
	As a result, the Roads Service of the Department for Regional Development, following public consultation in 2003, intends to introduce new primary legislation which will decriminalise parking offences and allow the responsibility for the enforcement of on-street parking restrictions to pass from the PSNI to DRD. It is expected that the legislation will be in place by mid-2005, with an operational scheme on the ground in mid-2006.
	All existing Traffic Wardens and Senior Traffic Wardens will transfer with the function. Transfers will be in accordance with the provisions of the Transfer of Undertaking (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and Cabinet Office guidelines, which protect the rights of employees when a transfer of function occurs.

Training Courses

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what the (a) cost to the Department, (b) title and (c) location was of each training course organised by his Department for its staff in each financial year since 1997–98;
	(2)  what financial penalties were paid in each financial year since 1997–98 to training providers by the Department for training courses prepared for its staff which were subsequently cancelled at the Department's request.

Ian Pearson: The information sought by the hon. Member is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

DEFENCE

Galileo Project

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had on the military implications of the Galileo Project.

Adam Ingram: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess).

Iraq

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: The security situation in Iraq remains difficult with determined fanatics and terrorists opposing the building of a new, democratic, stable and secure Iraq. Iraqi security forces supported by the multinational force-Iraq, continue to conduct operations against this insurgency. The aim is to create the conditions within which Iraqi elections can take place in a safe and secure environment next January.

Regimental Structure

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed new regimental structure for the Army.

Geoff Hoon: The Army is restructuring in order to ensure it is better prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. The new structure will ensure that the Army is more resilient, robust and focused to deliver operations at brigade level while retaining its core ethos of being a war-fighting Army able to conduct large scale operations alongside our allies.
	As part of this work the infantry will reorganise in order to accommodate both the ending of the arms plot and the consequence of reducing the number of infantry battalions by four. The decision to cease the arms plot means that the infantry must reorganise on the basis of regiments of two or more battalions. This is because in the future infantry battalions will be fixed by role and, largely, by location and it will be necessary to move individuals between battalions for experience, variety and development. Multi-battalion regiments will allow this movement, enabling us to deliver the real advantages of ending the arms plot in terms of operational capability and family stability, while still preserving the benefits and traditions of a regimental system.

The Black Watch

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date he expects the amalgamation of the Black Watch with other Scottish regiments to take place.

Geoff Hoon: The infantry will need to reorganise on the basis of multi-battalion regiments. No decisions have been taken on exactly how this will be implemented within each infantry division, and the consequent impact on individual infantry battalions. Nor have any decisions been made on the timing of implementation of the changes.

Arctic Convoy Veterans

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to recognise the service of Arctic Convoy veterans.

Ivor Caplin: As we approach the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War the whole House will I am sure agree that we owe all veterans, including those who served in the Arctic Convoys, our greatest respect and thanks for that service.
	However and specifically, service on the convoys to Northern Russia during the Second World War has already been recognised by the award of the Atlantic Star. The qualifying criteria for the medal, are published in Command Paper 6633 in May 1945 and Command Paper 6833 in June 1946 and are indeed quite specific.

International Terrorism

James Purnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action the Ministry is taking with (a) EU and (b) NATO allies to combat the threat of international terrorism.

Geoff Hoon: The Government are involved in a large number of counter terrorism initiatives with our EU and NATO partners, across the spectrum of civilian and military activity. The majority of these fall in areas which lie beyond the responsibilities of the Ministry of Defence. The issue is regularly discussed at all levels including in my own meetings with EU and NATO counterparts.
	There is a significant role for armed forces in helping to tackle the underlying causes of terrorism through stabilisation and peace keeping operations. Both NATO and the EU are making a vital contribution to international peace and security through operations in countries where terrorism might flourish.

Battalion Regiments

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the single battalion regiments that are to be merged into two, three or more battalion regiments will retain their (a) old regiment names in some form, (b) individual uniforms, (c) traditions and (d) recruiting areas when downgraded into a battalion under the new regimental structure.

Adam Ingram: The Army is currently working on the detail of the future infantry structure and an announcement will be made before the Christmas Recess. Where possible, the history, traditions, and names of famous regiments will be incorporated into the new structure, and the linkages with traditional recruiting areas maintained.

British Defence Exports

Si�n Simon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps he has taken to promote British defence exports on the international market.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence provides a high standard of support to legitimate defence exports. The Defence Ministerial team plays a full part in this work. Last year we helped United Kingdom defence industry to win orders worth nearly 5 billion, including the sale of Hawk to India worth 800 million.

Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who appoints the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Geoff Hoon: NATO Allies have agreed that the post of Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe will be permanently filled by a United Kingdom incumbent. The appointment of the incumbent to the post is approved by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and Her Majesty The Queen.

Electoral Registration

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel were registered as entitled to vote (a) in 2001 and (b) on the latest date for which figures are available.

Ivor Caplin: Information is no longer held on the number of Service personnel registered to vote.

Ministerial Speech

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of his recent speech at the University of Nottingham.

Geoff Hoon: I did not use a prepared text for my discussion with students at the University of Nottingham on 12 November 2004.

Naval Shipbuilding

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry regarding the maintenance of a strategic capacity for naval shipbuilding in the UK.

Geoff Hoon: Building on the solid base established by the Defence Industrial Policy we remain fully committed to maintaining a strategic capacity and capability for naval shipbuilding and ship repair in the United Kingdom. MOD and DTI officials and senior representatives from the shipbuilding industry have regular, positive and constructive meetings to discuss the current and future programme.

VJ Day Anniversary

Mr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he and his ministerial colleagues have had with (a) the armed forces and (b) veterans on arrangements for commemorations of the 60th anniversary of VJ Day.

Ivor Caplin: I announced on 27 September that there will be Government-supported ceremonies at the Cenotaph on Sunday 8 May to mark the 60th anniversary of VE Day and on Sunday 21 August to mark VJ Day. Both the Burma Star Association and the Royal British Legion have welcomed our support for these ceremonies, which are, of course, in addition to the events to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on 10 July next year which I announced the House on 1 March 2004.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Claims Direct

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs if he will publish correspondence sent by Mr. Peter Ross to the Lord Chancellor's Department in January 2000, relating to Claims Direct.

David Lammy: Mr. Ross did write to the Lord Chancellor's Department in January 2000 about Claims Direct, however we regret that in spite of extensive searches of our departmental records we cannot locate the actual correspondence requested.

Claims Direct

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what meetings were held between 1997 and 2003 between representatives of Claims Direct and (a) the Lord Chancellor's Department and (b) the Department for Constitutional Affairs; and what was discussed at each such meeting.

David Lammy: The information available from our records is that officials attended meetings with representatives of Claims Direct on three occasions between 1999 and 2000 to discuss the implementation of the Access to Justice Act 1999 in respect of conditional fees and after the event insurance. Officials met with representatives of Claims Direct on one occasion in 2002 to discuss a number of matters relating to the operation of the personal injury market.

Independent Appellate Authority Hearing

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs when the Independent Appellate Authority will set a date for a hearing for Flordeliza Moody, the wife of a constituent of the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey.

David Lammy: The appeal papers for Ms Flordeliza Moody, a national of the Philippines, are currently with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) of the Home Office. Officials from IND have confirmed that the appeal bundle will be forwarded to the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) by Monday 29 November 2004. The IAA will list the appeal for a full hearing and the confirmation of this hearing date will be promulgated to the appellant and her UK representative.

Ministerial Meetings

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what meetings were held by Ministers in (a) the Department and (b) its predecessor Department with (i) Mr. Colin Poole and (ii) Mr. Tony Sullman, directors of Claims Direct, to discuss the work of Claims Direct.

David Lammy: None.

Parliamentary Questions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs for how many written questions tabled in the last parliamentary session his Department had been unable to provide a substantive answer before the end of the session.

Christopher Leslie: None.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Gas Disconnections

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the protection afforded to vulnerable consumers at risk of disconnection by their suppliers under provisions for entry under a Justice's Warrant in the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954, as amended by the Gas Act 1995 and the Utilities Act 2000; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954, as amended, includes extensive warrants procedures that a supplier must follow if it wishes to enter premises to disconnect any customer. These procedures are under the jurisdiction of the courts. In addition, the arrangements set out in the Energy Retail Association's September 2004 report, Protecting Vulnerable Customers from Disconnection, which have been put in place by the gas and electricity suppliers, should ensure that, as far as possible, vulnerable customers are not disconnected.

Radioactive Contamination

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports she has received from the UK Atomic Energy Authority in respect of the recent incidences of plutonium contamination of operators at the pulsed column laboratory at the UKAEA Nuclear Installation at Dounreay; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Department has been informed of the potential intake of radioactive material by operators at the pulsed column laboratory at Dounreay. The regulators, Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Inspectorate, are aware and are monitoring the situation. The contamination was discovered through what are called routine nose-blow checks. Biological monitoring of fifteen operators is currently being undertaken , which will take a number of weeks to complete. The initial four results from biological monitoring have shown doses of less than 4 per cent. of the annual limit for radiation workers. As a precaution the building where the operators were working has been closed, pending further investigation.

Radioactive Contamination

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will estimate the volume of radioactively contaminated soil within the perimeter fence at the Hunterston A nuclear power plant; what the identity of the contamination is; what its average activity is per cubic metre; what the source of the contamination was; when (a) the operator and (b) her Department first learned about the contamination; whether information on volumes of contaminated soil is to be included in the 2004 edition of the National Radioactive Waste Inventory; what plans have been made for the removal of the contaminated material; and what the estimated cost is for dealing with the contamination.

Mike O'Brien: The estimated volume of land that could potentially have been impacted by historical operations dating back to the 1970's at Hunterston A is around 81,000 cubic metres. This is the figure quoted in the draft Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) plan recently published for consultation and also forms part of the Life Cycle Base Line for Hunterston A.
	Radioactively contaminated land at Hunterston A is mainly a result of the station's operational phase that ceased in 1990. Some of the contamination came from the on-site open-air cooling ponds through wind blown contamination within the site. Some were caused by spills from effluent lines within the site boundary and steps were taken at the time to prevent a recurrence.
	As part of the decommissioning strategy for Hunterston A, an extensive programme of work is currently taking place to better quantify the volume and levels of radioactively contaminated land and their significance and to evaluate and formulate options for the future management of this land. Until this work is completed, it is not possible to estimate the costs involved.
	The current (2001) Radioactive Waste Inventory contains relevant information and I am advised by the site operator that the 2004 Inventory is expected to contain similar information.

Renewables Obligation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in her review of the Renewables Obligation, she will take account of the impact on renewable obligation certificate trading of companies that have defaulted on their payments because of (a) insolvency and (b) other factors; and what additional (i) incentives and (ii) sanctions are being considered to make the scheme more effective.

Mike O'Brien: A separate consultation on the Renewables Obligation Order 2005 is addressing, among other things, the impact on renewable obligation certificate trading of companies that default on their payments to the Renewables Obligation buy-out fund. The consultation paper includes a number of proposals to make the scheme more effective including surcharges on late payments and mutualisation in the case of defaults. Mutualisation in this context refers to other suppliers making additional payments to make good the shortfall caused by a defaulting supplier. These additional payments would then be recycled to suppliers who met their share of the obligation through renewable obligation certificates, in the same way as the main buy-out fund.
	This consultation, which precedes the main Review of the Renewables Obligation, closes on 1 December. Amendments are planned to take effect from 1 April 2005.

Renewables Obligation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will publish the submissions made (a) to her in advance of her review of the Renewables Obligation and (b) to that review.

Mike O'Brien: This has already been done. Following the consultation on the Terms of Reference for the Review of the Renewables Obligation, which was conducted in August/September 2004, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry published a full version of responses received. These can be accessed at: www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/policy/terms_of_reference.shtml.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State intends to publish the responses to all subsequent consultations in the same way, except where an organisation has requested confidentiality, in line with Government guidance on good practice in relation to consultations.

TRANSPORT

Aircraft Noise

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance his Department has given to local authorities with regard to the impact of aircraft noise on growth areas.

Charlotte Atkins: Government guidance on the impact of aircraft noise is provided for English local authorities in the planning guidance note PPG 24-Planning and Noise.

Exeter/Barnstaple Railway

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the Exeter to Barnstaple railway line.

Tony McNulty: The Exeter to Barnstaple route is currently part of the Wessex Trains franchise, which, when it expires in 2006, will form part of the new Greater Western franchise. Under the Strategic Rail Authority's Community Rail Development Strategy, published on 22 November, the line is proposed to be designated as a Community Rail line. The Strategy aims to increase the number of passengers using rural rail lines.

Pedestrian Deaths

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many pedestrian deaths in road accidents there were where the pedestrian had over 100 mgs of alcohol per 100 mls of blood in each of the last six years; and what percentage of all pedestrian road accident deaths in (a) England and (b) each region this represents in each case.

David Jamieson: The estimated percentage of pedestrian fatalities in Great Britain who had blood alcohol levels over l00 mg/l00 mls are shown in the following table, for the last six years for which data is available. These are published annually in Road Casualties Great Britain: Annual Report. Estimates are not available for England or by region.
	
		Percentage of pedestrian fatalities with blood/alcohol l00mgs/ml
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1997 35 
			 1998 35 
			 1999 37 
			 2000 33 
			 2001 38 
			 2002 40

Rail Crossings (South-west)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) projects and (b) proposals there are in the South West for (i) bridge and (ii) tunnel rail crossings.

Charlotte Atkins: There are two provisionally approved local authority projects and one Highways Agency project that include rail bridges. A further two projects are currently awaiting ministerial decisions. There are no projects that include tunnel rail crossings.

Rail Crossings (South-west)

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road crossings with automatic gates over high speed tracks there are in (a) the South West region and (b) Somerset.

Tony McNulty: This is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail will write to the hon. Member.

Rail Services

Ann Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to announce his decision on (a) the Integrated Kent Rail Franchise, (b) the CTRL domestic service pattern to East, South and North Kent and (c) placing orders for the new rolling stock for the CTRL domestic services.

Tony McNulty: Four bidders have pre-qualified for the Integrated Kent Franchise competition and an initial Invitation to Tender was issued on 5 January 2004. The final Invitation to Tender is being finalised and the SRA intends to issue this to bidders before the end of the year. A stakeholder briefing setting out the future service pattern for Kent services will be published at the same time. Hitachi was announced as preferred manufacturer on 27 October this year and is working with industry partners to finalise technical issues. Rolling stock contracts should be signed early in 2005.

Seaford Route

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a statement on the impact of the Seaford noise preferential route on the proposed housing development at Imberhome in East Grinstead.

Charlotte Atkins: The Seaford noise preferential route (NPR) from Gatwick Airport is stipulated by the Secretary of State by Notice under s.78 of the Civil Aviation Act 1982. When it is allocated to the operators of aircraft departing towards the east, they are required to turn on a heading between East Grinstead and Crawley Down towards the navigational beacon at Seaford.
	Adherence to the NPR is assessed on the basis of a 'swathe', 1.5 km to each side of the centre-line of the route. Aircraft which have reached an altitude of 4,000 ft may be 'vectored' by air traffic controllers onto a different heading without being deemed to have deviated from the NPR.
	It is for interested parties to assess the relevance of the Seaford route, and of airport operations and noise controls generally, to any planning process, having due regard to planning guidance.

Silk Mills Crossing

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of how many cars used the Silk Mills train crossing in Taunton over the high speed train line from London to the South West each day on average in the last period for which figures are available.

Tony McNulty: This is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail will write to the hon. Member.

Silk Mills Crossing

Adrian Flook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what dates for heavy engineering works to the tracks at the Silk Mills crossing in Taunton have been made available to the Somerset Highways Authority for putting a bridge over the crossing into place.

Tony McNulty: This is an operational matter for Network Rail. Network Rail will write to the hon. Member.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Education Funding

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the reason is for the difference between the figure given for per pupil funding in the answer to the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire of 9 November 2004, Official Report, column 591W, in the last Session of Parliament, and that which appears on his Department's website at www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/pnattach/20030079/4.htm.

David Miliband: Figures given in the press notice of 2 May 2003 (to which the hon. Member refers) contained forecasts of some grants. In particular, demand-led grants such as Teachers' Threshold Payments and Performance Pay grants are distributed throughout the year, and School Standards Grant allocations were still being finalised at this stage, and are subject to revision during the year as figures are audited.
	In addition, the figures used in the answer on 9 November included the pensions transfers to Education Formula Spending made in 200304 and 200405. The series published on 2 May 2003 excluded the extra money transferred at this time for comparability with previous years.

Faith Schools

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on Government policy on faith schools.

David Miliband: The Government believes parents should have a range of schools to choose from, including faith schools. We welcome more faith schools in the maintained sector where they have the support of parents and the local community. Decisions about the establishment of new faith schools are made at local level by the School Organisation Committee for the local authority concerned or by the Schools Adjudicator if the Committee cannot reach a unanimous decision.
	Where an LEA holds a competition to establish an additional secondary school, faith promoters, along with others, may bring forward proposals to set up a particular type of school. The Secretary of State will make the decision based on the merits of the proposals and taking into account local views.

Key Stage 2 Results

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many pupils attained Level 4 at Key Stage 2 in each subject tested in 200304, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

David Miliband: The Key Stage 2 data for 2004 has not yet been analysed to parliamentary constituency level. This will be available shortly after the Primary School Achievement and Attainment Tables are published on 2 December 2004 and will be placed in the Library. For years prior to 2004, the information requested has already been placed in the Library.

National Healthy School Standard

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total cost to public funds of the National Healthy School Standard has been in each year since 1999; and what funding he expects it to receive in each year until 2009.

Mr. Twigg: The National Healthy School Standard (NHSS) has been jointly funded by the Department for Education and Skills and the Department of Health since 1999. The following table shows the funding allocated to the NHSS from both Departments since 1999. Information on any additional support from local NHSS programmes or from local education authorities is not held centrally.
	
		 million
		
			 Year (allocations) From the Department of Health From the Department for Education and Skills Total 
		
		
			 19992000 2 2 4 
			 200001 6 2 8 
			 200102 5.8 2 7.8 
			 200203 5.5 2 7.5 
			 200304 5.5 2 7.5 
			 200405 5.5 2 7.5 
		
	
	The DfES and Department of Health are committed to continued funding of the programme and the exact levels are still under discussion.

Parliamentary Questions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills to how many written questions tabled in the last parliamentary session his Department had been unable to provide a substantive answer before the end of the session.

Stephen Twigg: Of the 4,791 questions answered by this Department in the 200304 session, 18 did not receive a substantive reply. Ministers make every effort to answer questions substantively before Prorogation, but this is not always possible, especially with questions that are tabled in the last week before the House rises. Where right hon. and hon. Members did not receive a substantive response it is open to them to re-table their question this session.

Personalised Learning

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the Barnet pilot scheme for personalised learning.

David Miliband: The DfES, working in conjunction with London LEAs, is funding a project to develop an ICT strategy for London which has identified personalised learningtailoring education to the needs, interests and aptitudes of individual pupils within groups so as to enable them to fulfil their potentialas a key area for further development. As part of that ICT strategy, the Barnet project, supported by the London Grid for Learning, is utilising the broadband infrastructure in place across London and the LGfL services to provide individual access for schools, teachers, and pupils, at appropriate levels, to educational resources and information. This initiative by Barnet is a good example of the way LEAs are working with others to develop effective strategies for raising standards through personalised learning. We look forward to seeing the results of the project, and identifying how the lessons learned can be spread more widely.

Primary School Places (Washwood Heath)

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the availability of primary school places in Washwood Heath, Birmingham.

David Miliband: It is for each LEA to plan the supply of school places in its area to ensure that there are sufficient places, schools serve the needs of their local communities and provide good quality education in the most cost-effective way. The Government believe that decisions concerning the supply of school places are best taken locally by the main partners in the provision of education, who have knowledge of local needs.

School Toilets

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what regulations exist to ensure that children's toilet facilities in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools meet the standards set for adults in health and safety at work legislation; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The number of toilets required in both primary and secondary schools is detailed in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999. There are no specific regulations governing the condition and maintenance of toilet facilities but there is a general requirement that every part of a school and of the land provided for a school shall be such that the health, safety and welfare of the occupants is reasonably assured.

Somerset Schools

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of total capital expenditure on schools in Somerset for each year from 1997 to 2005; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The following table shows capital resources allocated to Somerset local education authority and its schools since 1997. Decisions on how resources should be invested in schools are taken locally in accordance with locally prepared asset management plans.
	
		Somerset LEA
		
			  000 
		
		
			 199798 3,845 
			 199899 7,786 
			 199900 6,988 
			 200001 15,948 
			 200102 11,760 
			 200203 16,045 
			 200304 19,249 
			 200405 21,831 
			 200506 10,001

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Barker Report

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the environmental (a) costs and (b) consequences of the Government's policy for implementation of the Barker Report.

Keith Hill: In addressing the specific recommendations in Kate Barker's report the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will adopt the same principles as set out in the Communities Plan.
	The Government has accepted her central recommendation that there should be a step change in housing supply and has announced its intention to set a national market affordability goal (as recommended by Barker) as part of a package of measures by the end of 2005.
	In order to inform this, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is commissioning two closely-related research projects. The first will analyse the relationship between housebuilding and affordability. The second, jointly commissioned with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, will look at the implications of various levels of additional housebuilding for sustainable communities. It will consider a broad range of impacts, including social, environmental, economic and fiscal.
	The projects will be completed by mid-2005 in good time to inform and allow for consultation on the setting of a national affordability goal.

Deprivation

Tom Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list deprived areas within Greater London.

Keith Hill: The Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2004 (ID04) can be used to assess the most deprived local authorities in Greater London. There are six presentations of multiple deprivation at the district level. These six summary measures capture the main ways in which multiple deprivation can be described at this level. No single summary measure is favoured over another, as there is no single best way of describing or comparing districts.
	The following local authorities in Greater London score within the top 10 most deprived districts in England in at least one of these six measures:
	Hackney
	Tower Hamlets
	Islington
	Newham
	Haringey
	The following local authorities in Greater London score within 1120 most deprived districts in England in at least one of these six measures:
	Southwark
	Lambeth
	Camden
	Westminster

Electricity

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what consultation he has held with electricity providers in the south-east on his plans for new building targets.

Phil Hope: As part of the Regional Assembly's process of developing the regional spatial strategy for the South East that will replace the Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (RPG9), there will be a number of opportunities for the electricity providers to comment on the emerging strategy. The Regional Assembly will be consulting on alternative spatial options in the new year.

House Prices (Greater London)

Tom Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the average price of a (a) one bedroom, (b) two bedroom and (c) three bedroom house in the Greater London area is.

Keith Hill: Estimates of the average price of residential properties sold within the Government Office Region of London and where completion took place during September 2004 are in the table:
	
		
			 Size of dwelling Average price (000) 
		
		
			 one bedroom 172,603 
			 two bedrooms 225,446 
			 three bedrooms 276,933 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures are based on a sample of purchases made with a mortgage. Cash purchases, which represent about 18 per cent. of sales in London, are not represented in the sample.
	2. The estimates shown are simple average prices, not mix-adjusted. In other words the price estimates could be influenced by the types of properties sold and the location of these sales in September.
	3. The estimates are based on the following numbers of purchases: 633 one-bedroom properties; 1,264 two-bedroom properties and 1,005 three-bedroom properties.
	Source:
	Survey of Mortgage Lenders

Housing

Howard Stoate: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate his Department has made of the cost (a) in total and (b) per unit of new housing of providing or upgrading the necessary infrastructure to support the 20,000 homes that are due to be built in Kent Thameside in the next 20 years.

Keith Hill: To date, 54 million has been allocated to support projects across Kent Thameside to 2006. There are also a number of North Kent wide initiatives that Office of the Deputy Prime Minister support separate to this and further programme funding to be allocated.
	These resources are spread across a range of projects that support the creation of infrastructure necessary for growth and creation of Sustainable Communities. These include mixed use developments, transport infrastructure, public realm and environmental projects, and community facilities. It is therefore not possible to give a meaningful estimate that corresponds to individual housing units.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister works in partnership with other Government bodies and the private sector to secure full costs for infrastructure. Our funding therefore acts as a catalyst for growth including the 30,000 homes and 50,000 jobs planned for Kent Thameside. There are also a number of other government funding streams that support the Thames Gateway agendafor example Department for Transport/Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's 200 million Community Infrastructure Fun and Department of Health's additional 40 million for Growth Areas. The Department for Transport's funding towards CTRL Domestics and the Fastrack bus system are also significant funding commitments towards area growth.

Housing

Tom Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list the grants his Department has made for housing developments in the London Borough of Wandsworth in each of the last three years.

Keith Hill: Grants made for housing development in the London Borough of Wandsworth in each of the last three years are as follows:
	Supported Capital Grant200203 11,803,000. 200304 8,455,000 and 200405 5,954,000
	Disabled Facilities Grant200203 204,000. 200304 210,000 and 200405 204,000
	And the Housing Corporation's Approved Development Programme (ADP) 200203 11,971,073. 2003/04-15,818,000.
	Challenge funda two-year investment programme favouring modern methods of construction 5,599,000.
	200406 current ADP allocation is a two-year programme totalling 17,453,411.
	The London Housing Board allocated 900,000 in 200405 to Wandsworth as lead authority in the Empty Homes scheme, for the South West London sub regional partnership.

Housing

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to reintroduce minimum room sizes for dwelling houses; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: The Government have no plans at present to introduce minimum room size standards for new dwellings into the Building Regulations.

Housing

Louise Ellman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the decision-making structures will be for the Housing Market Renewal initiative in Liverpool.

Keith Hill: The Merseyside market renewal pathfinder is governed by a board established in August 2002. It is an unincorporated association with an independent chair. Liverpool city council acts as the accountable body for the pathfinder. The Board has adopted a formal Memorandum of Agreement which sets out its governance arrangements. The current membership of the board is tabled as follows:
	
		
			 Name Position Organisation 
		
		
			 John Glester Independent Independent Chair 
			 Cllr Flo Clucas Lead member Liverpool city council 
			 Cllr George Davis Lead member Wirral metropolitan borough council 
			 Cllr Ian Maher Lead member Sefton metropolitan borough council 
			 Allison Cooke Chief Executive, Bebington and West Wirral Primary Care Trust Wirral Local Strategic Partnership nominee 
			 Kieran Gordon Chief Executive, Greater Merseyside Connexions Partnership Liverpool Partnership Group nominee 
			 Rev. Roger Driver Health and Social Care Forum Sefton borough Partnership nominee 
			 Diane Walton Assistant Director of Investment (Field) Housing Corporation, Northern Region 
			 Paul Spooner Regional Director English Partnerships 
			 Jenny Charteris Private sector CPCR 
			 Kelvin Hughes Private sector Cheshire Building Society 
			 Vacant Private sector Being recruited

Local Government Funding (Hampshire)

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, when a grant will be allocated to Hampshire County Council on the basis of the 2001 population census; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: The mid-year population estimates, based on the 2001 population census, have been used in the distribution of Revenue Support Grant since 200304. The Local Government Finance Report (England) 20032004 was approved by the House on 5 February 2003.
	The Office of National Statistics (ONS) revised the mid-2001 population estimates on 9 September 2004. I announced the start of consultation on the Local Government Finance Report (England) 20032004: Amending Report 2005 on 18 November 2004. The Amending Report incorporates the changes to the population data.

Local Government Pension Scheme

Bill O'Brien: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what mechanism will be used to introduce the changes to retirement ages for members of the Local Government Pension Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Amendments to the Local Government Pension Scheme are made under powers in the Superannuation Act 1972, by Statutory Instrument subject to negative resolution procedure.

New Deal (Wandsworth)

Tom Cox: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, how much money from the New Deal for Communities programme has been spent in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

Keith Hill: None. There are 10 New Deal for Communities partnerships in London, but none are in the London Borough of Wandsworth.

Parliamentary Questions

Nigel Evans: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, to how many written questions tabled in the last parliamentary session his Department had been unable to provide a substantive answer before the end of the session.

Phil Hope: None.

Part P Registration

Roger Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the (a) number and (b) percentage of contractors who will have registered as a Part P Competent Person by 1 January 2005.

Phil Hope: The operators report a steadily rising number of applications being received. More accurate details of Part P Competent Persons should be available in the new year when further progress has been made by scheme operators.

Part P Registration

Roger Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what information he has received concerning the availability of courses to enable contractors to qualify for Part P registration.

Phil Hope: Technical colleges throughout England and Wales are offering the relevant courses although many wishing to register with a Part P competent person scheme will already possess the required qualifications and will not need to attend a training course.

Part P Registration

Roger Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his estimate is of the total cost to the contractor of Part P registration.

Phil Hope: The registration fees for Part P competent person schemes range from 300 to 800, depending on which scheme a contractor applies to join. There may be additional costs for electrical testing equipment or for training to acquire the necessary qualifications where a contractor does not already possess these.

Part P Registration

Roger Gale: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what provision his Department has made to increase the number of local authority inspectors to facilitate the enforcement of Part P registration; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Hope: Local authorities are not responsible for the registration of persons on Part P competent person schemes; this is done by the operators of such schemes.

Right to Buy

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans the Government have to extend the right to buy to more housing associations' tenants.

Keith Hill: Over 50 per cent. of housing association tenants already have the right to purchase their rented home through the right to buy and right to acquire schemes. The Government have no plans to extend the right to buy to more housing association tenants.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is exploring the option of offering an equity loan to social tenants, including those who do not currently have a right to buy or acquire their home, in order to meet their home ownership aspirations. This follows a recommendation of both the Home Ownership Task Force and the Barker review.

Street Properties (Battersea)

Martin Linton: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what the outcome was of the discussions that he and the Housing Corporation have had with the Peabody Trust concerning the proposed sale of street properties in Battersea.

Keith Hill: The Housing Corporation is continuing to have discussions with the Peabody Trust regarding its progress against its plan to achieve the Decent Homes Standard. The Trust's plans are underpinned by a financial strategy, which includes the sale of some older properties to fund the improvement programme. This includes selected properties in Battersea, which the Trust is considering for disposal. The Trust will ensure that the interests of residents are protected when considering these plans.

Transport Infrastructure Fund

Mark Hoban: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the (a) type and (b) location of projects to be funded from the transport infrastructure fund he announced in his oral statement of 13 July 2004, Official Report, column 1258.

Keith Hill: The Community Infrastructure Fund was announced in July 2004 as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. It comprises 50 million in 200607 and 150 million in 200708. It is designed to support the transport infrastructure costs required to enable faster housing development in the four Sustainable Communities Plan growth areasMilton Keynes South Midlands; Thames Gateway; London-Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough; and Ashford.
	Guidance on the operation of the Fund was published on 19 November 2004. 34 million has been allocated to two bus schemes in the Thames Gatewaythe East London and Greenwich Waterfront transits. No decisions have yet been taken on the allocation of the remainder of the money. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Department for Transport will be working closely with local and regional partners to agree priorities for funding. Initial funding for successful schemes will be made available from April 2006.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Child Support Agency

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will ensure that the Child Support Agency informs the parent with care of all financial decisions regarding the non-resident parent; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mr. Doug Smith. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Doug Smith to Mr. John Taylor, dated 29 November 2004
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will ensure that the Child Support Agency informs the parent with care of all financial decisions regarding the non resident parent; and if he will make a statement.
	The Agency's ability to share information is governed by Regulation 9A of The Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure) Regulations 1992. Within that constraint the Agency will inform the parent with care of all relevant financial decisions regarding the non-resident parent.

Child Support Agency

Mr. Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria are used to decide whether a Child Support Agency client is to be assessed under the new or old system; and what arrangements are in place for moving cases between the two systems.

Chris Pond: In general, new applications which take effect on or after 3 March 2003 are dealt with under the new arrangements. However if a new application is made within 13 weeks of the closure of an old scheme case, it may fall to be dealt with under the old arrangements.
	Old scheme cases remain subject to the old rules. However some cases are converted early if they are linked to a new application. The circumstances in which this happens are prescribed in legislation. They include, for example, cases where a non-resident parent who already has an old scheme assessment is also the non-resident parent in relation to a new scheme application.
	We will make a decision on the transfer of old scheme cases once we are sure that the new arrangements are working well and its IT is robust.

Contracted-out Rebates

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his estimate of expenditure on contracted-out rebates is based on an assumption about the number of people who are contracted out in 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Current estimates of expenditure on contracted out rebates in 200405 are based on assumptions of the number of people contracted out in 200405, as well as incorporating other data and assumptions-for example, the earnings of people contracted-out and the level of rebates paid in the past.
	Assumptions of the number of people contracted out in 200405 are in turn based on the latest available data on the numbers of people contracted out but taking account of information on trends in contracting out since the latest data.
	The latest available data on the number of people contracted out was published in March this year and shows numbers contracted-out up to 200001. Further data showing numbers contracted out up to 200203 is expected to be published by the end of this year and the assumptions underlying the estimate of rebate expenditure will be reviewed in light of this new data.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the costs of the Financial Assistance Scheme will be met from within his Department's pre-existing spending plans.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government have promised to make 400 million in total available for the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS). It is proposed to accommodate expenditure on FAS in the period from 200506 to 200708 within the spending plans settled in the 2004 Spending Review. For later years, the Government will take account of their commitment to the FAS in future spending reviews.

Household Income

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of households in each region of England and Wales has a gross annual income of (a) less than 10,000 and (b) less than 20,000.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table:
	
		Percentage of households in each region of England and Wales with gross annual income less than 10,000 and 20,000 at 200203 prices. Average for 200001, 200102 and 200203.
		
			  Gross household income less than 10,000 Gross household income less than 20,000 
		
		
			 North East 27 58 
			 North West 22 53 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 22 53 
			 East Midlands 22 51 
			 West Midlands 20 49 
			 Eastern 17 41 
			 London 19 42 
			 South East 15 38 
			 South West 20 48 
			 Wales 24 56 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. All figures are estimates and are taken from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). Due to regional volatility, estimates are based on a three year average from 200001 to 200203.
	2. Figures are based on a total income at 200203 prices.
	3. The FRS is not designed to collect information on annual income. Earnings figures are based on last usual pay. Annual income is estimated by assuming that the income for the relevant period applied for the whole year.
	4. The estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which align the FRS to Government Office Region populations by age and sex. Estimates are subject to sampling error and remaining response bias.
	5. Total weekly household income consists of gross income from all sources before deduction of income tax and national insurance.
	6. Total income has not been adjusted for family size.
	Source:
	200001, 200102 and 200203 Family Resources Survey, Great Britain

Pension Credit

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average payment of pension credit is in (a) England and Wales and (b) each region.

Malcolm Wicks: Average pension credit awards in Great Britain, England and Wales and in each Government Office Region in Great Britain at 30 September are given in the following table. Information on numbers of pension credit recipients will now be reported on a quarterly basis, in line with reporting practices for other Departmental benefits.
	
		Average pension credit awards30 September 2004
		
			 Area Average award () 
		
		
			 Great Britain 41.67 
			 England and Wales 41.83 
			 Eastern 39.14 
			 East Midlands 39.48 
			 London 57.77 
			 North East 37.12 
			 North West 41.42 
			 Scotland 40.29 
			 South East 38.56 
			 South West 38.62 
			 Wales 41.82 
			 West Midlands 41.73 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 38.15

Working Time (Home Deliveries/Services)

Mr. Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether his Department collects statistics on the amount of working time lost by employees waiting at home for delivery of (a) goods and (b) services.

Maria Eagle: The Department does not collect statistics for this purpose as employees required to wait at home for delivery of goods and services utilise the provisions of the flexible working hours agreement or their annual leave allocation, thereby not incurring any lost working time.